Grain elevator



June 26, 1951 E. c. sHRlvER ETAL GRAIN ELEVATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28, i945 June 26, 1951 E: c. sHRlvR ET AL 2,558,006

GRAIN ELEVATOR Filed Aug. 28, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 26, 1951 E. c. sHRlvER ETAL 2,558,006

GRAIN ELEvAToR Filed Aug. 28, 1945 s sheets-snaai 5 /W/mw@ s.. m @Me i5/@222W Patented June 26,4 1951 GRAIN ELEVATOR Everett C. Shriver and Harvey H. Dailey, Enid, Okla.; said Dailey assignor to said Shriver Application August 28, 1945, Serial No. 613,118

8 Claims. l

The present invention relates to a grain elevator and has for its primary object the provision of a new and improved portable grain elevator.

Another of the primary objects is the provision of a new and improved portable grain elevator which is practical and economical in construction and easy to use and to handle.

Another and more specic object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved portable grain elevator including a casing, within which is housed an auger type conveyor especially adapted for conveying small grain, and means for rotating the auger, all so constructed and arranged that the elevator may be moved from place to place and that the lower or inlet end of the casing may be moved about either vertically or sidewise in the grain.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable grain elevator including a casing and an adjustable inlet at the lower end of the casing, whereby the size of the inlet may be readily adjusted to regulate the llow of grain.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved portable grain elevator including power means for rotating the conveyor and novel means for mounting the power means.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved portable grain elevator having novel suspensionmeans whereby the elevator may be suspended in such manner that it may be readily moved about in the grain.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved grain elevator including novel means for supporting and driving the grain conveyor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved grain elevator wherein the inlet end of the elevator is substantially dustprooi".

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description thereof, in the course of which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of a grain elevator constructed in accord- .ance with the present invention, the grain elevator being shown suspended in an inclined position corresponding to one of the many positions in which the apparatus might be placed in use;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged axial cross sectional view through the upper end of the conveyor and illustrating particularly the mounting of the upper end of the auger type conveyor utilized in the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 illustrating the conveyor driving motor in a different position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3, the driving motor being omitted for purpose Iof simplicity;

Fig. 4A is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line IIA-4A of Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged axial cross sectional view through the lower end of the elevator illustrating the mounting of the lower end of the conveyor and the adjustable slide for regulating the size of the grain inlet; Y

Fig. 6 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along the broken line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view taken along line 'I-T of Fig. 1 illustrating details of suspension means which may be utilized when the conveyor is driven by an electric motor;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the suspension means shown in Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line 5]*9 of Fig. 1 and illustrating idler pulleys and their supporting structure;

Fig. 10 is an end elevational view, partly broken away, of a modified conveyor drive and taken along the line Iii-I0 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 11 is an axial cross sectional view of thef drive illustrated in Fig. 10 taken along line I I--I I of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of elevator utilizing an electric motor for driving the conveyor.

Referring now to the drawings and rst particularly to Fig. 1, it may be noted that the grain elevator of the present invention is indicated as a whole by reference character IIJ. It includes, in the main, a substantially cylindrical casing I2 of convenient or desired length within which is rotatably mounted an auger type conveyor I4 suited especially for conveying small grain, ar

motor I6 movably secured relative to the casing and driving the conveyor through a belt I8, an adjustable inlet indicated as a whole by reference character 20, and an articulated or ilexible outlet spout 22.

One of the main features of the elevator. of the invention is its adaptability for various types of drives, especially either electric or gasoline. A gasoline engine drive is illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein the motor I`6 is a gasoline engine, which may be of conventional construction.

The elevator may be suspended from a suitable support, shown diagrammatically at 24, by a chain or the like 26 secured to a supporting bracket 28 mounted in suitable position upon the motor. The arrangement, as will be described in detail hereinafter, is such that the elevator may be moved into dierent angular positions vertically and may be moved to and fro horizontally to facilitate the transfer of grain from a bin or car or the like to a desired place.

The casing I 2 is preferably made of a relatively heavy grade of sheet metal. It is tubular in order to receive the rotatable auger type conveyor Ill which includes a spiral blade 38 secured to a shaft 32. The shaft 32 is rotatably secured at its opposite ends to the casing m in lower and upper supports indicated by reference characters 3/land 36, respectively.

The lower support 34 includes, and now referring primarily to Figs, 1 and 5, a bearing cage 38 having a generally cup-like shape and secured to the lower end of the casing l2 .by a plurality, preferably four rods 49 having z-inturned lower ends 42 suitably secured, as by welding, to the exterior of the cage. A thrust Vball bearing '44 is secured to the lower end of the conveyor shaft 32 and to the cage. The lower bearing is made substantially dustproof by means of a washer 46 surrounding'and'weldedtolthe shaft at a location Whereit substantially seals the cage .38.

The upper support 36 .includes an annular head 58 secured to the upper end of the casing i2 by a 'plurality of screws .52. .The conveyor shaft is rotatably supported inthe head by a ball bearing 54 secured tothe shaft and held within a bearing receiving recess '6 located centrally of the head. Leakage of grease toward the interior of *the Velevator' along .the Shaft is prevented by seal defining packing .58 held between the bearingand the central portionll ofthehead.

The upper bearing Sli .is secured to the head by vatakeup screw 62 firmly held in place in the head in adjusted .position by locking means .including a washer 5ft .bearing against the screw and a bolt 66 securing'the washer tothe head.

The auger type conveyor i4 is thus supported freely and for true running in whatever angular position it may berplaced in use. It is rotated, as already indicated, by the engine i6 and belt IB. The belt drives the conveyor shaft 32 through a pulley 68 secured to the end 1 6 of the shaft VeX- tending beyond the upper end of the casing. The belt is driven by the engine through the engine shaft 'I2 and a pulley 'I4 secured .to the shaft.

The belt runs over a pair of idler pulleys '1.6 (only one of which is shown .in.Fig. l) rotatably secured .to an idler pulley .bracket 18 detachably secured to the conveyor casing .I2 so 'that it `may 'be removed when .the auger is rotated by an electric motor as indicated in Fig. l2 and as -will be described in detail hereinafter. The -idler Vpulley bracket '1.8 is xedlysecured to a base plate .8U detachably secured to a generally .channelshaped combined electric motor .and bracket mounting plate 82 secured in suitable manner, as by welding, .to the exterior of the casing near the upper end of the latter. cated so that an in line drive is obtained.

kThe driving means for the conveyor isso `constructed and arranged that the pulleys and belt remain in the same relative positions .in the various Apositions of the casing and vparts attached to it. This advantageous construction comprises means for suspending the .casing movably with respect to the engine shaft so .that the casing pivots about the shaft. As. a result, the engine driven pulley .'M and the other pulleys and .parts o'i the conveyor `drive pivot .about the engine shaft with the casing.

The .engine i6 is lXedly supported ina genorally VU-shaped saddle 84., to which it is secured as by .the lmounting Vbolts 6B, and which .forms part .of .a simple yet eiective mounting. The saddle is pivotally .secured .through its spaced apart upright portions .85 upon a mounting bracket indicated as -a whole 4by reference Acharacter .88 and detachably secured to the .casi-ng.

The Vpulleys .are lol Cil . 4 The mounting bracket includes a generally semicircular upper portion 99 adapted detachably to be secured to the casing I2 by a similar semicircular portion 92 also .encircling the casing, the ytwo .semi-circular parts :being secured by a plurality of bolts 9'4. The bracket includes also a pair of vertical side plates 96 and 99 having semi-circular upper ends. Side plate 96 is secured to a vertical side support |09 welded or .otherwise suitably secured to the upper semicircular part l9E) of the mounting bracket.

The supporting means includes -a pair of trunnions lli] extending through yapertures II2 in the side plates and secured `to the upright portions of the saddle by `a plurality oi screws .I I4. 'The trunnions Ill'l iit relatively closely in the apertures H2 and they are prevented .from being withdrawn through .the apertures by larger diameter washers IS attached to the trunnions by fthe screws H4. The motor shaft 'i2 extends free- Ily through .one oi the trunnions I I8.

The engine mounting .is thus such .that the saddle Aand engine swing forward land backward lengthwise of the elevatoras .the ycasing and ccnveyorare moved angularly, the .engine .being held in the same position .vertically by the supporting chain. The entire assembly, including the motor, may `also swing about a vertical axis .so that both ends of the conveyor maybe moved easily into .desired positions.

In order .to prevent undesiredsidewise movement of -the .elevator casing, .especially in .the event .too .heavy an engine is used, the .engine vis secured to the casing at somewhat .above .the centerpoint .so that .the lower `end .of the casing is gravity biased downwardly.

In .accordance with another feature .of the present invention, the elevator is supplied with the adjustable grain inlet 26. The inlet includes a tubular vcomposite outer sleeve |29 encircling the lower portion .of the vcasing |2 and adapted to be secured in various adjusted .positions lengthwise of the casing by a locking bolt |22. The sleeve |28 is preferably fabricated Vand -includes a pair of vcollar-like portions |24 and |26. The yformer is in effect a part of the sleeve and is secured as by welding |23 to a plurality (four) of axially extending spaced apart side plates |38 =slidably arranged .between the rods 40. The .lower vends of the .side plates |30 Vare secured as by welding to the lower collar .I 26.

The spout, which forms another feature of the present invention, -is of an .articulated -or flexible construction. It includes a first Ygenerally truncated tubular spout section |32 fiXedly-secured to the casing I2 and communicating with the interior-of the-casing through an-opening133 A(see Fig. .2), in the casing. The auger, it should be noted, extends approximately to the middle of the aperture so that grain conveyed by 'it flows into the outletspout section. The vspout includes also a plurality vof relatively movable spout sec tions |34 which are movably secured to nach other by diarnetrically oppositely located chains |36 secured as by bolts |38 to the individual spout sections and by hooks vI 49 to the stationary spout section. y l 1j In order to enable the elevator as a whole to be transported from place to place and to enable it to be moved when in operation, the casing is provided with lower and upper handles |40 and |42 which are suitably secured as by welding to the exterior of the casing.

When the conveyor is to be rotated by an electric motor, as indicated in Fig. 12, the gasoline engine and the mounting means therefor, as well as the idler pulleys, and its supporting bracket may be removed. The electric motor, which is indicated by reference character |50, is then secured to the mounting 82 with the motor shaft |52 located lengthwise of the casing. In this modification the motor and auger shafts are interconnected by sprocket wheels |54 and |56 and a chain |58, although other types of drive may be utilized. The construction is thus such that the shift from one type of the motor to another may be made readily and without changing the mode of operation of the device.

When the conveyor is driven by an electric motor, the elevator is supported either through a ring |69 or a bail 62. The ring 60 is xedly secured to the casing, for example, it may be welded to the casing and to one end of the upper handle |42. The bail |62 is preferably movably mounted relative to the casing. It is generally V-shaped and, referring now more particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, it may be seen to have generally circular lower ends |64 encircling a rod |66, which ends are prevented from being moved therefrom by the cotter pins |68. The rod passes through a tubular guide |10 mounted a short distance above the casing in the supporting plates |12, which are welded to the exterior of the casing.

A modied conveyor drive is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 to which reference is now had. In this embodiment of the invention, the drive includes gearing constructed as a structural unit with the upper bearing support and head, indicated as a whole by reference character |80. The drive includes a pulley |82 rotated by a belt |34 or the like driven by an electric motor mounted with its shaft disposed transversely of the casing or by a gas engine mounted as heretofore described.

The gear drive includes a worm |86 mounted for rotation with a shaft |88 projecting outside of the casing |90, to which projecting portion the pulley |82 is secured. The shaft |88 is rotatably supported relative to the casing by spaced apart supports |92 and ball thrust bearings |94. The worm |86 drives the conveyor shaft 32 through a worm wheel |06 secured to the shaft as by the key |98. The gears are sealed within the housing |90 which contains lubricant for lubricating the gears. The conveyor shaft is rotatably secured in the housing by spaced apart ball bearings 200 and 202 mounted, respectively, in a closure plate 204 and an annular casing closing plate 206. The gear housing |90 is secured to the plate 206 as by a plurality of cap screws 208. The screws also hold in place a spacer plate 2|0 located between the housing and the head plate 206. The bearing 202 is mounted within a central recess 2 l2 in the plate 206. Leakage of lubricant along the shaft past the bearing is prevented by seal defining packing 2|4 and a bearing and packing holding plate 2 I6.

The bearing 200 is secured in a cup-like takeup nut 2|8 adjustably mounted in a threaded central recess in the end plate 204.

From the foregoing detailed description of the conveyor of the present invention, it may be s i noted' that the various embodiments thereof may be constructed readily and economically and that the resulting structure may be used advantageously for conveying grain from one location to another. The elevator may be oper`- ated by various types of motors including the gasoline engine I6 or the electric motor |50. Furthermore, the changeover from one type of drive to the other may be effected readily. The elevator can be transported from one location to another with ease and its position may be adjusted to convey the maximum quantity of grain in a minimum of time by moving the inlet in the grain to desired points.

When the gasoline engine is used, the elevator is secured to the engine and pivots about the engine shaft so that the elevator may be moved to various angular positions either about the engine shaft or about the suspending chain 26 without disturbing the relationship between the various parts. l

The quantity of the grain transported by th elevator may be regulated at will by adjustment at the inlet 20, more particularly by axial move# ment of the slide |20 to vary the effective size of the inlet.

The grain conveyed by the elevator may be readily directed to desired points through the articulated or ilexible spout. The delivery of the grain is therefore positionally independenty of the inlet so that additional ease of operation is afforded.

The gasoline engine is so located lengthwise of the remainder of the apparatus that the Weight of Uthe lower portion exceeds that of the upper so that the elevator normally tends to occupy' an inclined position somewhat as illustrated in Fig. l. The ring |60 and bail |62 are located somewhat higher so that, when an electric motor is utilized, the balance remains about the same and the position of the elevator may be readily varied.

The dust and lubricant proof constructions also add to the practicability of the device.

While the present invention has been described in connection with the specific details of a limited number of embodiments of the invention, these details are not intended to be limitative of the invention, except insofar as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim Yas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A grain elevator, including in combination, means including a casing and grain conveying means mounted within said casing for moving grain through said casing, power means including a rotatable shaft operatively connected to said grain conveying means for operating the latter, means secured to said power means for suspending it and said casing and grain conveying means, and means securing said casing to said power means for pivotal movement about the axis of said shaft.

2. A grain elevator, including in combination, means including a casing and grain conveying means mounted within said casing for moving grain through said casing, a motor located outside of the casing and including a shaft extending transversely of the casing and operatively connected to said grain conveying means for operating the latter, mounting means xedly secured to the exterior of the casing, said mounting means having a pair of aligned apertures concentric to said shaft,amotor mounting saddlehaving a 'pair `of hollow trunnions rotatably mounted in said apertures and extending thereth1ough,sa.id shaft passing through at least one of said trunnions, and means secured to said trunnions for holding said saddle on said mounting means.

3. A grain elevator, including in combination, means including a casing and grain conveying means rotatably mounted within said casing for moving grain through said casing, a motor including a shaft located outside of and extending transversely of the casing, mounting means tixedly secured to the exterior of the casing, said mounting `means having a pair oi aligned apertures concentric to said shaft, a motor mounting saddle having a pair of hollow trunnions rotatably mounted in said apertures and extending therethrough, said shaft passing through at least one of said trunnions, means secured to said trunnions for holding said saddle on said mounting means, a pulley mounted on said motor shaft beyond the motor mounting means, a pulley secured to said conveying means and rotatable coaxially of the casing, and means including a belt tand idler `pulleys detachably secured to the exterior of the casing for connecting the motor and conveying means pulleys.

4. A grain elevator, including in combination, a tubular closed casing, grain conveying means movably mounted within said casing, and said casing having an outlet at one end and an adinstable grain inlet at the other end, said inlet comprising angularly spaced apart rods xedly secured to and extending lengthwise of the casing, and casing encircling `means including portions `located and movable lengthwise between the :rods for varying the effective length of the casing and thereby controlling the effective size of Athe grain inlet.

. 5'. A grain elevator, including in combination, a'tubular casing yhaving an outlet at one end, grain conveying means movably mounted within said casing, an adjustable grain inlet at the opposits end of said casing, said Yinlet comprising angularly spaced apart rods secured to and eX- tending lengthwise of the casing and terminating in inwardly extending portions, and a dustproof conveying means supporting bearing assembly secured to said inwardly extending portions.

6. Mounting means for detachably securing power means having a shaft to the Vcasing of a grain elevator, including in combination, a mounting adapted detachably to be secured to the exterior oi vthe casing, said'mounting having shaft, a saddle havin-g a pair of hollow trunnions rotatably mounted in said apertures and extending therethrough, the shaft passing through at least one of the trunnions, and means secured to the .trunnions outside of said mounting for holding said saddle on the mounting.

7. An adjustable grain inlet for a grain elevator, including in combination, angularly spaced apart rods Xedly secured to and extending lengthwise of a main elevator casing, and casing encircling means including portions located between and movable lengthwise between the rods for varying the eiective length of the casing and thereby controlling the effective size of the grain inlet.

8. A grain elevator, including in combination, a casing having a grain inlet and a grain outlet, grain conveying means extending axially of and inside said casing, means including bearing units supported at opposite ends of said casing for rotatably supporting said conveying means, and a take-up screw associated with the casing and the bearing unit at the outlet end of said casing for holding said bearing unit in position.

EVERETT C. SHRIVER. HARVEY H. BAILEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe le of this patent:

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